Monte Poole: No-huddle offense was Oakland Raiders’ star

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Jacksonville Jaguars' Rashad Jennings (23) pushes his way into the end zone for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012 at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron/Staff)

Oakland Raiders kickoff returner Mike Goodson (25) runs back the opening kickoff of the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012 at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron/Staff)

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Aaron Ross knocks the ball away from Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012 at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Ross was called for pass interference, setting up a Raider touchdown to tie the score 23-23 and send the game into overtime. (D. Ross Cameron/Staff)

OAKLAND — The victory celebration was muted, as it should have been after an outcome that provided more relief than joy.

The Raiders had spent the first half Sunday being blown off their home field by a one-win Jacksonville team utilizing backups at quarterback and running back. The Raiders’ coaches were getting schooled, their fans getting anxious.

So the coaching staff wised up at halftime, and the players came out and fought back. They transformed without a minute to spare.

They did this by reaching for their most reliable offensive weapon, one they don’t use often enough.

They unleashed the no-huddle offense, which provided the energy for the comeback that resulted in a 26-23 victory over the Jaguars in overtime.

Coming to the rescue at halftime was none other than disparaged offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who first lit into his sagging troops and then directed quarterback Carson Palmer to use the no-huddle offense.

“It’s just a great change-up,” Palmer said. “That defense was tired. Coach Knapp said to go with it. It was a great adjustment at halftime. We talked about what we were going to do with it.

“We hadn’t planned on using a ton of it.”

Maybe, having barely avoided embarrassment, it is time to change the plan. Maybe, with a 2-4 record and a sputtering run game, it’s time to see if your veteran quarterback would be more effective operating freely within the no-huddle offense.

Not that it has to become the base offense, used on every possession. But surely there is enough evidence to consider using it on many possessions in most games — especially when the huddle package is foundering.

“We’re not going to be just a no-huddle and use it exclusively,” coach Dennis Allen said, “but it will be something that we’re going to use from time to time to maybe help us get in a little more rhythm or give us a little spark. I felt like it did that today.”

No doubt. The Oakland offense looked listless and inept in the first half, after which it jogged into the locker room trailing 17-6 and having to digest rousing disapproval from the 51,634 fans at the Coliseum

The Raiders gained 127 yards in the first half, 224 afterward. They scored zero touchdowns in the first half, two in the second. Moreover, they looked fully engaged and widely inspired.

“It’s a natural tempo-changer,” fullback Marcel Reece said.

Indeed, with Palmer under siege — Oakland’s offensive line got worked by the Jags — and Darren McFadden still under control, the no-huddle offense is their best friend.

It was a key component of the Raiders’ only other victory, 34-31 over Pittsburgh on Sept. 23, and it was largely responsible for a season-high 474 yards in total offense in a 23-20 loss a week ago at Atlanta.

Raiders coaches insist the no-huddle is not the answer, that it’s hardly the panacea for their ailing offense. The players generally agree.

“I’m sure we’ll use a little bit of it,” Palmer said. “Some weeks, we’ll use a lot. If you’re not in a rhythm, there’s only one way to go. Coach Knapp did a good job of getting us into it today. The timing of it was right.

“But it’s not our offense. We have good plays in the huddle system, and we have good plays in the no-huddle system. But we’re not going to completely rely on it.”

It’s as if everyone is reading from the same organizational manual: The no-huddle offense is a tool of convenience, something to reach for when we need a boost.

Thing is, this team needs a boost, any boost, certainly on offense.

It also might behoove the Raiders to let Knapp reveal his creative side while putting more responsibility on Palmer. He’s not Peyton Manning, but he’s hardly JaMarcus Russell.

“There’s communication between (Palmer) and Greg Knapp,” Allen said. “But at the end of the day, Carson makes the final decision on what plays we’re running, based off the game plan and what we feel like we can do to exploit their defensive structure.”

So the question, then, is this: Is Palmer up to the task?

“I’m comfortable with whatever (the coaches) want to use — with whatever works,” he said. “Today, the no-huddle seemed to work.”

The no-huddle pulled the offense out of a hole that might have been as much mental as it was physical. It kept the Raiders from losing to perhaps the league’s worst team.

It’s one of this team’s strongest features, and these Raiders aren’t good enough to dismiss a component that saved their backsides.

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